€¦ · Tbe Oreads IN solemn stillness of the early dawn Came Lilith, golden oread of the morn, On...
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Transcript of €¦ · Tbe Oreads IN solemn stillness of the early dawn Came Lilith, golden oread of the morn, On...
TH' O' ' ADS
AND O TH ' ' PO ' ' S
éy
'OHN BO' KN IGHT
A' THO' O'
OTH'' PO'' S
N ' W ' O ' K
P. '. K ' N ' D ' 8L S O N S
P ' B L I S H ' ' S
My dreamland is an isle of emerald hue
Afar beyond the sea’s uncharted blue
Where snow-white waves their Witchery ever fling
' pon its pearly shores, and low songs ring
From earliest silver gleam of summer dawn
Until the last rose tint of day has gone'
And none may reach that dream-encircled shore
Save those who dip the spray with enchanted oar .
Tbe Oreads
IN solemn stillness of the early dawnCame Lilith, golden oread of the morn,On drifting clouds of white, descending snow
From out the dim and mist-veiled east afarWhere faintly gleamed a soft and silvery star,And through dim forests lying calm below
Swept silently in wondrous white array .
Where’er she passed each icy drop that lay
On frozen wintry bough was changed to pearl,And swiftly clouds of snow in merry whirl
Ceased where she queenly sped,an oread fair
From out far realms of misty morning air .
Before her swiftly fled the shades of night
As through the frozen forest depths of white
She sped o ’er the cold and feathery gleaming snow
Afar upon the winds to castle olden,Whereon the first faint fires enkindled golden,Streaming soft and far from eastern skies,Of the morning fell in mystic solemn glow .
She ente ring found fair Oreas in disguise
Of a mortal youth, upon his closed eyes
The exquisite charm of dawn’s delightful sleep,A vision glorious in his slumber deep .
Bowed low in adoration at his feet
Sang Lilith in a clarion voice and sweet
[ I ]
Come, cherished one, awaken and behold
From thy window the snow descendingFair and cold o’er mystic forest olden,Where dim and low gnarled trees are bending
Winter branches changed to icy white .Oreas'from thy slumbering deep arise
And from thy wondrous starry eyesChase away the dreamy spell of night
With vision fair of soft and feathery skies
And white snows wintry drifting down .
Most beauteous one, with whom the light
And glory of the seraphs seem to dwell,Open thy dreamy eyes wherefrom the spell
Of'
captive sleep doth take its fond farewell'Gaze upon a scene of fle e cy white,And hearken to the chiming of the bells
Afar upon the early breezes blown,Clearly from the fairyland of dawn .
But fairer than the beauty of the snow,
Or misty east, or rose new-blown art thouWith smiling face Whereon the early glow
Of morning light falls in its dim halo .
”
From off his couch of earthly white and rose,From slumber waking Oreas then arose .Swift to the casement in his robes of light
He stepped and gazed upon the forest white .
His gladdened eyes were bright like stars of mornThat radiant the eastern skies adorn
,
Whilst o ’er his robes a golden splendor shone
That veiled his form in glamour of the dawn .
Come out in the snow,
Fair Oreas you knowHow gaily winds blow
Heralds the morn,
O’er the sparkling snow
We’ll merrily go,Come, King Oreas,Fair and glorious,O ’er night victorious,
Our glad song trills
In silvery echo .
Come out and see
The darkness flee
And all the lightOf morning bright
Shine with delight
Upon thy forHasten away
In bright array
Breaketh the charm
Of Night’s dim ray .
Wandering afar
Beyond the star
Of morning, aj ar
We’ll swiftly fling
The gates of dawn,And ]oyous sing
With clarion ring
The hymn of morn .
Soon from the golden window Oreas flown
As softly as snowflake down from Paradise blown'Descending stood amid his e lfin band,Who louder sang and joyously hand in hand
About his mortal form in rhythm whirled
As clouds of snow the wintry breezes swirledSilently o ’er the forest wrapped in pearl .
Then up and on the winds to morning land
Afar and fainter grew their merry songUntil o ’er the dim and distant hills in long
Unbroken gleam of amber flame the dawn
Sprang out and all the clouds of night had flown .
[ 4 ]
Now where the first faint streaks of dawn appeared
And moved the dreamy mists that veiled the morning
star,Came Oreas, fairest oread of the morn,His golden hair unbound by early Winds
And tossed on dusky air' soared kingly down
The sombre eastern way and set aj ar
The golden gates of light and darkness fled
Forth on the wings of night to lands afar
With silver bugle sweet and clear as chime
Of morning bells he woke the oread choir
And called to matin song . Now swiftly away
They sped to where their sovereign hung and forth
Upon the perfumed air sweet notes prolonged .
See where the changing east they tint with hues
And up and down the western ways begin
To strew long paths of shining light to touch
The eastern blue and change the earth to gold .
Soon all the silver mists dispersed and one
By one the sleepy stars their twinkling eyesSerenely closed . Then Oreas, angel bright,His darksome foes o ’
e rcome ,x did gather on
The topmost peak his throng of oreads fair
Whence all the hills echoed their triumph song .
Radiant o’er the east new colors gleamed
And changed to burnished gold the crimson skies,
And soft o ’er snow-clad hills bright glories streamed,
Whence dazzling rose the brilliant orb of day .
Oriel and Iune on a dim starry night
Wandered afar in the gold moonlight.Oreads were they from the realms of morn
Swiftly on rays of the moonlight borne,A message bearing to the fairy queen
Who dwelt afar beyond the green
Of agreat wide sea in the crimson west,Enthroned in beauty, nocturnal dressed
In splendor more brilliant than any dream.
Drifting on perfumed winds they took their
Afar to the realms of the weird black night,Where fireflies gleamed on the dusky air
And swooped to the darkened earth oppressed
By sweet incenses of its flowers fair .
Crimson shone the robes of Oriel, and gold
His unbound hair, and dark the clouds that rolledBeneath his youthful form, and gloriously white
His long, strong arms were twined as girdle bright
Around Iune , arrayed in purple hue
Whose long black hair in the night winds blew
In clinging folds about his arms and breast
And crimson lips and found a place of rest
Around his fair white throat . As swiftly they
Adown the western way, gently swaying,Oriel his star-crowned head bowed, saying
Beloved, dost remember when you and I
Once in the long, happy years gone by
Dwelt as mortals where the amethyst skiesDipped low to a sea exquisitely blue .
More wondrous fair than any queen were you
[ 6 ]
And I lost my heart in your dark, starry eyes .
We wandered together in those far days
Through blossoming, shady woodland ways
That met above us, and ,gleaming blue
The great calm sea would fall and rise
And sob with joy when sea winds blew .
More than life I loved you and when sweet
You kissed me then was glowing life complete .
Nestling close to his throbbing heart Inne sighedAnd softly sweet in fondest tones replied '' Oriel, you are my sole delight'You are fair, fair as the gold moonlight
Streaming afar through the silvery night .
A beautiful King you are to me'As o ’er the gloom, the sun
’s bright ray'Fairer than flowers that bloom in May
Where nightingales sing their melody'Far fairer than a long midsummer day .
See where yon shining fairies their flight
Are winging o ’er hills to you and me .Fairer than they art thou, my own,Sweeter than lilies newly blown'Dear Oriel, thou art fairer to me
Than all the beauty of the strange wild
Forth from the marshy lands of Night aOf sylphs and fairies soaring came
On rays of the golden moon in long
Unbroken line of fire and flame
That burned afar in the dusky night .Nearer and nearer they came
,winging
[ 7 ]
Their flight to Oriel and Iune , singing
A deep wild song in the dim starlight .
Clasping each other in fear and folding
Swiftly about them their robes of morn
On scarlet wings the two bright oreads then
By myriad fairies of the dusk were borne
Away to Night’s dark Queen and regions dim
Beyond the phosphorescent sea ’s dark rim .
Deep in an ancient forest’s purple grandeur
Darkly robed in night’s strange wild splendor,Enthroned in lurid twilight deep and sombre,Most wondrously beautiful sat the Queen
Of Night’s weird land, clasping a fairy sceptre
Of gold that cleaved the murky waves asunder,Revealing rugged the glade and dusky green
Of tangled leaves and stately moaning trees
Where many fairies and the wood nymphs fair
And sylphs of the caverns with shimmering hair
Danced merrily in the restless evening breeze,Whirling in circles through the air
,
Gracefully round the diamond-studded throne
Whereon silvery, star-crowned, radiant Izel
Sat clothed in sparkling robes of night that fell
In flowing waves of blackness,dimly blown
By perfume laden zephyrs to and fro .
Hark to their song as the wild waves moan
Starry—eyed queen of beauty bright,
Gold crowned queen of the weird black night,
Rarest treasures are we bringing,
[ 8 ]
Treasures of the hills and vales'Fairest flowers are we flingingWantonly to the perfumed gales'Sweetest songs gayly singing .
Cymbals and harps are ringing
In adm1ration of thee,Queen of nocturnal beauty .
See the golden moon doth swiftly pale
Before the fair exquisite grace
Of thy glorious star—lit face, and allThe distant echoes peal in praise of thee .
Lowly we kneel in numbers many
Until thy wand in crimson flaming
Bids us stand again to gaze on thee'Then in merry confusion rise
And whirl in dizzy mazes round
And round thee'
like golden butterflies
In sombre twilight touch the ground
Or soar toward the purple skies .Where torches burn ’mid whispering pines
We dance long hours and the purple wine
Flows in many a goblet of thine .
Merrily we whirl and merrily we singWhile the timbrels and gold harps ring'To thee all praise
,adorable sprite
,
Glory—crowned Queen of this beauteous night .
Breaking the song and the merry dance,
Oslo, bravest sylph of the woodland green,Cast afar through the night his flaming lance
And cleaved a path for the sylvan throng,
[ 9 ]
Who bore in their midst with a triumph song
Messengers of morn to their beauteous queen .
Song and dance and the merry lute were hushed,And all was silent save the flame that blushed
Crimson round the throne of Queen Izel .Bowing low at the Night Queen’s feet,Oriel spoke in silvery tones and sweet '
Your maj esty, most gracious and charming,Wanderers are we from regions of morning,From Oreas, fair king beyond the sea,We
'
come from out his land to thee
Into Night’s weird country . He bade us sayThat all the long, long shining hours,Filled with songs and fragrant flowers,He pines for thee in stately bowers .
Languid he lies all the midsummer day
In lily beds blowing ’neath amethyst skies,And sighs for the light of thy beautiful eyes,For the warm sweet touch of thy fair white hand
,
For the soft low tones of thy golden voice
In soothing song' to adore thee and rejoice
In the mystic light from thy dark starry eyes,
For this, 0 glorious Queen, fair Oreas sighs .”
As night’s low music from star to sea rang,So in wondrous golden voice Izel replied '' Oreads bright, go tell your fair King,Through all night’s purple watches long
I wait for his s ilvery voice to ring
Softly to me in glad low song.
I wait and wait and long for one
[ 10 ]
Through the strange black night where one dreamy
Lit the wild marshes through a mist of gold,To the borderland by the wide, weird sea
That shone as sapphire most beautifully .
To Oreas they came in the mornmg light,Fair
,King in the realms of eternal day,
And answer gave from Izel, queen of Night .
Then quivered up and down the western way
In challenge, shining rays that swept afar
Into the darkness beyond the - evening star .
Black began to grow the realms of night
For rays of dawn were near in threatening might.Dense clouds from marshes began to rise
And veiling the moon and bright starlight,
Circled in angry masses o ’er the skies .
Mysterious, wailing winds sprang up and cried
Alarum wild to hills and vales around .
Each dim ray of Night’s weird splendor died
And rain began to beat in torrents down'Loud thunder crashed and lightning silvery bright
Chased across the stormy clouds a ray
Of brilliancy which lit the skies of grey .
Night’s dark Queen with all her fairy train
To a sylvan cave fled from the rain .
Aside they laid their starry raiment,Donning the robes of tournament .In the dim-lit subterranean hall
Hastily Izel began to call
The warriors of the woods and hills .Oslo, a sylph who dwelt by the rills
[ I 2 ]
Of Oran, captain of warriors bold,With Florizel, proud of his armour gold
From the moon ’s bright rays, led forth untold
Mail-clad spirits in numberless throng
To war for Izel in battle strong.
In the deep darkness that purple hung
O ’er the marshes by the borderland
Of Night they came and hastily flung
Scarlet clouds afar on crimson sandThat lay in masses o ’er the sea’s dark strand .
In lurid light Izel with face aglow
Sat on a steep high cliff where the ceaseless flowOf waves beneath sobbed in grief forlorn
And waited with her retinue for morn
O’er the distant purple hills to fling
Its warning light, and with the dawn its King.
Not long the watch, for soon a crimson light
Far o ’er the hills and sapphire-bordered sea
Shone in red rays through drooping clouds of night
And swiftly after the angels brightOf ' om in robes of purest shining white
Came, bearing in their midst on fragrant air
King Oreas, gloriously white and fairWith starry blue eyes and golden unbound hair
Streaming afar, and crown of dazzling light .Swiftly they came, but swifter far
Night’s dark band stood to meet and bar
Their pathway o’er the gleaming eastern sea
Where foaming sapphire waves were dancing madly .
[ 13 ]
The Queen of Night and King of Morning meet .
With wondrous eyes and glorious smiles they greet
Each the other gladly with kisses sweet .
One moment brief fair Oreas clasped the form
Of queenly, dark Izel and showered warm
Wild kisses on her brow, amid a stormOf light and shades and oread voices raisedIn war against the fairies of the night,Who gathering far and near from each dark mount
Made violent battle for the reign of night .
Then Izel spoke whilst round them warred might
darkness now predominant o ’er light
Behold this day shall I meet thee
At the fountain of lilies fair'Love, thou shalt be there to greet me
With kisses sweet . Oreas, I know
How softly the breezes will blow
With caresses there thy sunlit hair'And in the rosy west the glow
Of fading skies will gently throw
Its subdued halo around thee .
Behold, thou art fair as the bloomOf a lily’s exquisite fold
,
And sweet thy mouth as rich perfumeFrom off the lily petals gold
That lie in the fountain dim and white,
And in thy blue and starlike eyes
Are ways that lead to Paradise
Wherein unwoken dreams of lightLie slumbering as the pools of night.
[ 14 ]
Long days ago when southern skies
Bent low to meet the purple hueOf far—off hills that fall and rise,As snowy waves on the bosom blueOf crystal lake, I dreamed of thee,And thought thy silvery voice in song
Chimed through the golden hours to me ,Thy face from flowers wild looked long
And sweetly into mine and smiled
Upon me then, a wandering child .
Oreas, when the day is dimAnd whispering winds from out the west
Kiss snow-white lilies by the rim
Of marble fountain thou shalt rest
On my heart again, thy lovely face
A white rose in the afterglow'And thy fair hands in fond embrace
Shall close o ’er mine again, I know,
Through all the days that come and go .
Then a throng of oreads casting down inWith loud acclaim their golden rays of light
Dispersed the vanquished fairies of the night
Who swiftly speeding in confusion dire
Retreated to the hills,—with them Izel,The weeping queen, in arms of Florize l,Wafting tenderly a weeping farewell
To the King of Morning, who gloriously fair
Floated on newborn light . in sun-crowned airAmid his victorious, adoring throng
Who lifted high their silvery voices in song
[ 1 5 ]
Oreas, so fair,Now have a care ,’Tis not for thee
On land or sea
A Queen to find .
Forever to roamWithout a home
By hill and dale
O ’er rill and vale
Art thou resigned .
So come, bright one
To find the dawnAnd there on fleece
Of clouds release
Each mom and eve
Doth come reprieve,
A moment brief
Assuage thy grief,
But thou art shornOf all thy power
If thou dost mourn
For that brief hourIn thy long day .
Come , oreads, allLet’s hasten now
[ 16 ]
Close beside fair Oreas in shining light
In brilliancy of that victorious morn .
' ROM out the blue hilltops one early mornAfar and wondrous clear a silvery horn
Pealed o’er the fragrant vales in harmonySo sweet and wild that all the air was filled
With glad echoes that chimed in symphonyCelestial . It hushed in every budding tree
The merry birds and lesser notes were stilled,Charmed to silence in its melody .
Climbing afar up a golden wayI hastened ‘to meet the bugler gay,And swiftly after the winds of May
Came, Wafting from every opening flower
A wealth of sweet perfume to shower
On one who came from out the skies
All white and wondrous fair, in guise
Of care-free Alpine shepherd boy,Blue eyes and face aglow with joy .
Sounding his horn in the early mornAfar upon western breezes borne
,
Gayly from out the blue hilltops he came
As fair as dawn and where’er his feet
Touched the earth the lilies arose to greet
His presence, sending afar their incense sweet .Soft from out the summer skies aflameWith airy, crimson clouds was sifted down
Warm sunlight the shepherd boy to crown .
[ 1 3 ]
Within the crimson west
Thy lovely eyes now close
Bringing soft and low
A silvery echo
From out the sapphire hills,
Then dear love I know,
I know by distant rills
Thou’
rt singing sweet,
And the winds repeat,
At thy sandaled feet
All the happy day,And butterflies greet
Thee in a pathwayThat circles between
Overhanging trees,Leading to bowersOf magnolia flowers
That fall in showers
On the shady green .
In thy little hands
A sceptre of gold'Wondrous glowing bands
Thy lily brow enfold .
Love, thou art a King
And all the flowers fair
Bowing at thy feet,Are thy subj ects who bringPerfumes rich and rareAnd incomparably sweet
To scatter on the air .
Love, thou art a KingAnd all the roses white
Are fairies gay that singSweet songs to delight .
They sing of me, dear,Lon,e and far away .
Love, they are so near,They touch thy lily brow
,
Breathing soft and lowWithin thy pearly earThe words I cannot say .
[ 22 ]
Fairest in the land,
Where the tears are for me,Glistenmg as the stars
In the beautiful skies,I would sit for hours,In a rapture sweet
At thy sandaled feet,Beneath the bowers
Falling in showers,And twine garlands fairTo wreathe in thy hair .
There’s one I know,
Sing soft and low'There’s one I love,My pure white dove'And what care I todayIf skies be cold and gray,
Tomorrow’s sun may shine
As fair as that of May .
My love is with me now,
It matters not how lowThe wintry clouds in line
There’s one I love,Sing it o ’er and o ’er
There’s one I love
Forevermore .
Whose’ breath is mystery sweet
Has come across the hills
The violets to greet,And o ’er the shining rills
From distant sunny hills
To fling its charming glow .
Now weary Winter shakes
With wan and lonely smile
Upon a purple bed
She f re sts her ancrent head
And lies to dream awhile .
A bird ’s delightful lay
Floats out upon the breeze,
And on the hills at play
Little lambs are seen
Skipping o ’er the greenAnd up a stony way .
COME roam with me in the wood todayWhere flowers bloom around our way .
The sun gleams soft o’er hill and dale
And o ’er the sky a fleeting veilOf morning clouds drift snowy white .There violets pale purple the gre
And low the fronds of willows lean
To kiss the waters in delight .
The world is beautiful todayO come with me away, awayInto the forest deep and green
Where ever is fair Nature queen,
Amid the flowers bright and fair .Here faces pale with sorrows
Smile again, blush as the rose ,For Spring now gladdens all the air .
We’ll wander in the woodland stillTo where a sparkling silvery rill
By mossy bank and violet
Flows down to meet a rivuletThat deep within the shadow lies
And scarce reflects the sunlit skies .Magnolias here with snow-white bloomSweetly the forest isles perfume
,
And in our hearts the spell of joyAnd love awakens without alloy .
[ 26 ]
Perfume of hyacinths
A-clustering in her hair,Perfume of magnolias
And lilies on the air .
As she goes a-singing
Along the sunny way,Bells in Heaven ringing
Chime no sweeter lay .
Airy shining lightness
Of a summer morn,Ethereal fairy brightness
All the scene adorns .
Where the green is thickestAnd the blossoms fall,Forth steps a gay youth
Fairer than them all .
Meets the pretty maiden,And bowing low to greet,Sees the scarlet roses
Scattered at her feet .
In the wood no damsel
Half so fair as thee'Wilt come with me alway
Queen of my heart to be'
‘
In his eyes the pleading,The music of the Spring,In his voice the melodyThat the robins sing.
[ 28 ]
She vanished ’mid the roses
And roses that are dead .
' AIREST flower that ever grew,
Once she loosened from her breast,
This I say, her eyes are blue,From corsage White the rose she drew,
Dole for me, her servant blest,Fairest blossom that ever grew .
,Of my love the guerdon true,
’Tis my altar’s only guest,This I say, her eyes are blue,Still to me ’tis bright of hue
As when first my lips did press
Fairest blossom ever grew .
Sweeter than when gathered new,
’Twas the Sign her love confest,This I say, her eyes are blue .
Askest thou of me a clue
that Lady I love best,This I say, eyes are blue.
[ 30 ]
IT was the Spring when joyous Rudolph cameFrom out the hills to me
,like silvery flame
Of early dawn across the purple way.
The earth in happy song awoke,and May
Put on her robe of blossoms white as queen
Of all' and through the glad and dream—like day
How sweet and low from out the woods so greenCame merrily the calls of birds, with sweet echoOf morning bells far in the vales below .
With happy smile and eyes of blue that shoneWith light angelic, swiftly as if blown
On zephyr cloud he hastened to my side
Amid the perfumes of the forest wide .
A charm of world celestial seemed to hang
O ’er the sunlit way of forest green, whence rangThe vesper be ll' and sweetest violets grew
Deep in luxuriant green,’mid sparkling dew
And decked the wayside with their deepest blue .
That time the Winter winds afar had gone
And Summer dawned in fairest azure hue
O ’er all the land whence chilling snows had flown .
It was the oread prince, Rudolph so gay,Before whose steps the gloom of sorrow fled .
Fairer than all the fragrant violets blue
He came to me when Winter late had fled,As if some white-blown lily of the plain
Had found its soul and walked the green again .
[ 3 1 ]
Bonnie
W HERE the willows bend low' And with mournful sighing weep
O ’er waters sullen and deep
Whose cold and darksome flow
Goes on to seas below'Where chill winds fiercely blow
And skies are cold and blue,There shall I lie
Down and die,For my Bonnie is untrue .
Afar the birds are Singing gay,And from the hills the snows are gone,And o ’er the earth the Springtime dawn
Has changed to green the wintry way,Where chase each other the winds at play'And all the earth is budding
But in sorrow I sigh,Ah, let me lie
Down and die,For my Bonnie lS untrue .
False, but fair as lilies whiteAnd glorious that now adorn
High altars on Easter morn'Fair as the seraphim bright
That guard the altar’s holy light
Art thou, my Bonnie,— false and fair
[ 32 ]
As phantom of the summer air'And fallen on my soul a blight
Of wintry frost that blew
Long, long ago,For now I know
That you, my Bonnie, are untrue .
In visions sweet thy starry eyes
As once with sapphire gleam they shone
Alight with love for me alone .
But now the way to ParadiseFor me is closed and bitter night
Obscures for me that morning light .
If i
you were near me as of old
I would not lie
Down and die
In this dread river cold .
Why did you whispering tell
Me once you loved me, alone,When now afar you have goneNot caring, and the knell
Of solemn death has darkly fallen
O ’er my heart, and darksome HellHas seized upon my soul, for you
My Bonnie, Bonnie, are untrue'And wildly I cry,Ah, let me lie
Down in the waters swift and die .
But now there gleams a lightSoft and silvery o’er my night
,
[ 33 ]
Shone clearly through the sombre night .When Ariel passed in golden light
He lifted the flower to delight
His breath divine, then sweetly smiledWith radiance fair and wondrous wild
As if his inmost thoughts it knew.
Ariel ’s face was like a lily fair
And round his dark and clustering hair
A golden band was gently bound'And as he moved there came a sound
Of distant music low and sweet
As if earth sang beneath his feet .
Where’er he passed as in a dream
The ancient trees in joy supreme
Let fall upon his head in showersOpening buds and newborn flowers .
Then, passing strange, the hyacinth blue
In accents full of fear to greetHis presence fair and lips to meet
,
Spoke with low voice but silvery sweet' Bend down o ’er me and from thy feetGently lift me to thy bosom white
,
My petals cool with dews of nightKiss and change to gems as blue
As yonder sea’s hyacinthine hue,Twining them in a crown of light
Thy brow adorning pure and white .
The glory of the dim, wild nightIllumines thy celestial face,
[ 36 ]
Ariel, glorious angel of the light,Sweet form of wild and beauteous grace .
Look thou on me with starry eyes,Inhabitant of star-dimmed skies,Who cometh down from realms above,Changing me to a crown of love
To place upon thy brow of lightBefore the seraphim pure and bright .
Then Ariel soared to Heaven fairAnd round his brow the flower rareWas twined in amethystine band
That lit his dark and flowing hai
When on the shores of Heaven’s white
He trod once more the silvery strand
Bright seraphimin wonder cameCasting around him a golden flame,And mortals on the earth afar
Saw in the a star .
[ 37 ]
I FEAR no'
foes that come or go
On distant snow-crowned hills,Or vales below where sparkling flow
The merry winding rills'But gaily ride along the side
Of gleaming lake and marble stair
To greet my bride and long abide
Within her palace fair .”
So, gaily through the morning dew,
Edward of Orlando
On charger true of midnight hue
Rode down to vales below'And sweetly his song rang all along
The winding forest way
Where birds among a leafy throng
Answered his tuneful lay .
It was a day in perfect May
When sunbeams come and go,And blythe and gay along the way
Merrily winds begin to blow,
And white clouds lie against the sky
Afar as in a dreamThat seem to sigh when passing by
The woodland and the stream .
[ 38 ]
So,gaily on by rose trees blown,Rode Edward merrily
To claim his own who dwelt alone
In a castle by the sea .
Amid the bloom and sweet perfumeOf Springtime’s early morn
His snowy plume the forest gloom
Waved brightly to adorn .
A castle tall with marble wallStood by the sounding main
And welcomed all to its high hall
From far and emerald plain .
Beneath its towers and leafy bowers
Of many an ancient tree
Fairest flowers fell in showers
In a garden by the sea .
A lady fair with golden hair
Wandered in the garden old,
And everywhere the gentle airWhispered of love untold .
She strolled alone Where dewdrops shone
On roses snowy White
And gathered one by sunlight blown,
Caressed it with delight .
As waves that flow in golden glowUpon the silvery strand
She murmured low in accents slow,
Clasping her snowy hands
[ 39 ]
Here by the sea I wait for theeWith hands outstretched and white .
I dream of thee incessantlyThe livelong day and night .
High on the hills and by the rillsThe rose trees are in bloom .
Their beauty thrills my heart and
All life with sweet perfume .
But thou art far as morning star
In the grey sky gleamingI
Whose silver bar shineth afar
Upon the blue sea beaming .
0 golden day pass not awayUntil he comes to me'
Along the way let music playTo call him from the sea
For long ago in golden glowOf sunset’s deepening hue
The winds that blow now soft andSwiftly sped him o’er the blue .”
As all alone she strolled forlorn
Thus in the garden fair,Afar a horn upon the mom
Pealed forth a joyous airA gallant knight in armor brightWith steed of darkest hue,
His face alight with love’s delightRode down to the sea of blue .
[ 40 ]
INONA dwelt in a garden old1 By a beautiful sapphire sea, high
On a cliff of glistening gold
Where snowy waters d ashed seething by'And low above a southern skyTo the waves exquisitely bent,
And clouds like snow drifts softly rolled
As angel chariots far adown
The amethystine firmament
By flower scented zephyrs blown .
As fair as the damask rose’s hue
Was Imona as she walked all dayIn the garden high where sea winds blew
Awry her dusky hair and charmed awayThe crimson petals at her lovely throat,Wafting them on the waves to float
Far out on the summer sea
To distant climes with bluer skies .As dark as the dusky heart deep
Of scarlet roses her s tar-bright eyes,
And sweet as fairest dreams of sleep
That wring the heart with weeping sighsHer smile’s bewitching beauty .
From out the emerald sea aroseClad in seaweed a water sprite
,
Fair Paoli, more exquisite
[ 42 ]
Ne’er deep and sweetest dreams had broughtSo wondrous a vision, nor had wrought
So strange a joy in trembling heart,For before her stood in seaweed wound
Fair Paoli, wondrously crownedWith gleaming snowy pearls and partOf the sunse t’s rainbow-hued rays,His starry eyes two sapphire ways
That led to Paradise aboveWhere all is happiness and love .
No more in the garden old and high
On the cliff by the murmuring sea,Where waves went singing by,Dwelt dark Inona alone'But afar on the winds we re blown
Songs entrancingly sweet that flew
In echoes out to distant caves
And lured forth water nymphs in waves
Of shining green in search anew
For Paoli, King of the Sea.
And some of his kind who ventured near
The rose garden afar in the deep
Gay voices in gladness could hear
And songs so sweet as to make them weep
Saw visions faint of their fair king,More beautiful than in days of old,Robed in raiment of shining gold,
About his snow-white brow a ring
Of glowing pearls, and standing close,Dark Inona as a scarlet rose,Entrancingly beautiful and fair.
W HERE elms beside a river wide
Were gaily blown by the summer breeze
And sweetly sang the foaming tide
Which came from blue and distant seas
And threw its spray in rainbow shower'Where roses of the Springtime blushed
In colors bright of every hue
And in the sunlight fountain gushedAgainst the sky ’s enchanting blue
As if it were some fairy tower '
Elois sweet,—an earth-born maid,Who seemed a lily snow—white sprung
Anew in green and sunlit glade,About whose life was radiant flung
Protection of its morning hour .
The pale sunlight around her form
Made aureole of her gold hair,And soft its beams reflected warmWithin her eyes so blue and fair'She seemed a pure, unearthly flower .
Across the green and flowering land,
That lay beyond with tree and vine,
Soft colors gleamed as if some handHad painted it with touch divine
To enhance the more its beauty pale .Afar upon high b ills were seen
Against the clouds that floated by
[ 45 ]
A flock of sheep amid the green
Of peaceful pastures,’neath a sky
That halcyon shone o ’er Anandale .
Nearby,across the fountain’s face
Where water lilies fragrant lay
A snow—white swan with haughty graceSwam slowly all the summer day,Like ship
‘
afar with furled sail .
Close by the shore green cedars tall
Reflected stood in rippling tide,Revealing there a stately hall
W ith a marble portal white and wide
That opened to the flowery vale .
As ’neath the elms stood Elois fair
Beside the blue and summer seas,The light upon her golden hair,Unbound
,that floated in the breeze
From fragrant shores of other lands,Across the distant waters came
A ship that seemed to swiftly rise
From out the depths like golden flame
Of sunlit sea ’gainst tranquil skies,And sped as if by magic hands .
Nearer it came from realms of morn
. With sails outspread Within the light,The cross upon their pinions borne
In crimson ’gainst their snowy whiteWith shining clear and golden bands .
Within its prow stood Alvin bright,
Son of the morning, rich arrayed
[ 46 ]
In golden colors, gleaming light,To greet the fair and earth-born maid
,
Singing to the waves’ accompaniment .A sea nymph green as the ocean dim
That glided by in graceful swell,
Stood at the helm and guided him
Across the waves that rose and fell
Whilst he sweetly sang on pleasure bent .Thus did his boat with sails windblown
Into the river swift and wide
Speed on to Elois standing lone
Who to the winds a love song cried
Which to her voice their music lent
I am the same as when of old
I danced beneath the sunny skies
Of Heaven ’s far and tropic shore,Adown which western blue there rolled
But sun-kissed amber clouds and gold
Into the embrace of the sea'As when beneath the pines I strolled
That whispering of the future told,And sparkling waves came murmuring sweet
Of love, with music at my feet .
In those dim days my heart was light
As southern winds on a summer night,
And orange bloom in its snowy whiteNot half so pure . Again to me
Comes the sweetness of the hours
Wiled amidst the fragrant flowersBlooming in those olden bowers
[ 47 ]
Of my fair home beside the sea'And in the sunset’s amber hueAnd golden
,floating o’er the blue,
Again the long forgotten viewIn misty fancies seem to see .
Adown the marble steps a-going,Dark eyes and face a-glowing,Sea winds about me blowing,Where white foam flew on the waters blue,Low at your feet a-flowing
To welcome you I came,Sailing to me from over the sea,And all my heart was turned to flame
With a changeless love and deep
As pearly depths whe re rmermaids keepTheir jewels treasured, where they sleepIn seaweed ’s luxuriant fold
Securely under the sea .
Through all the golden summer time
Which glided by in a silvery chimeOf sweetest love I knewNot when the eastern blueNor western crimson blushed
,
But all the long, long daysMoved in a dream-like maze
Of forgetfulness, and hushedWas the dashing of the sea'
-For in your dark eyes there seemed
A wordless song which when you smiledMethought the song pealed forth in wildAnd sweetest melody .
[ 48 ]
On a day when all the air was filled
With incense of the fading flowers,And flitting song birds sweetly trilledThrough all the long and golden hours,And waves came dancing to the sands,Bearing on their foamy whorlsCountless fair and gleaming pe arlsAnd flung them shattered on the strands,Flashing at our feet in showers'Came from out the north a wind which flung
Into my face the silvery foam and sungWithin my ear a wintry song.
But you clasped me and kissed awayFrom my cheeks the salty spray
And breathed within my ear a throngOf love words sweet and lowThat set my heart aglow
With newborn ecstasy .
Came also from out the north
Upon the waves tossed back and forth,With sails outspread and burningIn the vivid western glow
,
For you your ship returning
From your far away home,
Signalling you to come .Hastily you whispered low
,
‘Elois, Elois, adieu,Again I come to youEre the falling snow
Or wintry winds blow.
’
Then stepped aboard and sailed
[ 49 ]
At the close of a golden day
Far out across the sea .”
Alvin’s eyes were bright and blue
Like skies upon a summer morn,And on his checks the rose—like hue
Of sunrise o ’er the sea newborn,Increasing to the raptured sight .
A band of gold upon his brow
Lit all his fair and smiling face
As'
proudly he stood in the ship ’s high prow
And watched the sunbeams dance apace
O ’er clouds that drove away the night .
Like an oread adrift'
upon the sea
He’
loite red not but shifted sail
And headed his boat toward the lea
Where Elois stood within the gale
Of perfumed Winds in western flight .
His voice was sweet and all along
The flowery shores the echoes rang
In dulcet notes as if to prolong
The melody he‘
gaily sang,Dipping his oars in the sea’s white foam .
The clouds drew back as on he came,From off the land and swiftly fled
And all the strand with light aflame
Welcomed his boat with sails outspread,
As gallantly he came returning home .
The willows beckoned along the shore
Where sang the birds without a care,And lilies white shed more and more
[ 50 ]
L O' E, thou camest from out the scarlet westWhere late the summer sun had gone to rest,Across the golden fields of corn as fair
As crimson poppies clinging in thy hair .
All dreamy eyed and dazed thou carne st to meet
Me o ’er the poppies strewn beneath thy feet,And winds of twilight sang amid the corn
And blew its fragrant tassels that adorned
With gold thy way from sunse t’s scarlet bourne
To one who hastened eagerly to greetThee in the glory of the sunset fleet .
The dusky night awhile its starry handsStayed at thy coming
,Whilst o’er eastern sands
In splendor rose the golden harvest moon .
Love, thy mouth a crimson poppy bloom,
Thine eyes two dreamy stars in sunset skies,Thy voice echo of the distant vesper bell .In thy fair hands the bloom of yellow corn,
Its heavy fragrance on the night winds borneAs if from far and mystic bordered lands
,
To scarlet flame turned all the greyish sands .
From out the moonlit east to thee I cameUnto the west all dyed in scarlet flame
,
And met thee in a field of yellow corn,
My love, amidst the fragrance of the dell,And kissed thee where the poppy blooms adorn
[ 52 ]
' OUR faces all ‘ familiar are,Sweet verbenas blooming fair .
I love to come and watch youBy the fountain here .Your white bloom like the winter snow
And red of deepest hue,Your pink like sunset’s early glow,
And dark transcendant blue .
Dear flowers, all, you remind me
Of moments long gone by,Of childhood’s happy hours
Beneath a southern sky .
For once in those dear days
I made a flower bedOf sweet verbenas, like you dear,But now they all are dead .
I ’m wandering, far away,An exile frommy home,But dream of distant daysBefore I left to roam .
Sweet verbenas blooming fairHere by the fountain white,Upon your beauty rare
I gaze in sad delight .
[ 54 ]
ON' night in dreams I wandered far and lone
To a wood I loved in days forever gone .
Straight and tall I found the pines still growing,And sweet the wind amongst their branches blowing,Whilst in beauty by the wayside bowingGreen, slender palms in gladness welcomed me .
In this beloved wood I sang with glee
When but a child . In each sequestered place
I searched for violets pale, or deeper hued,For lilies pure and white and full of grace
As angel hands that guarded where they grew .
I dreamed I was a happy child again
And searched for violets, but found them not .I tried to raise the palm leaves, but in vainSo sorrows cover over j oys forgotten
But one came through the wood all robed in whiteAnd smiled upon me in a holy light
And spoke my name in voice I ever loved,The first sweet voice that ever gently moved
My heart to tears, or lulled to deep slumberEyes that knew not sorrow’s weary number .
Then all the gloomy wood was glad and sangTo accompany there my dearest mother’s ' oice,And joyous notes from highest Heaven rang
That made the tall and ancient trees rejoice .No longer hidden were the violets white
[ 55 ]
THERE is the sound of holy WingsUpon the night’s entrancmg air,The gentle touch of holy feet
Upon the daisies blooming fair .
From the distant orchard-covered hillIs heard the call of a whippoorwill
And fireflies vie with stars on high
To light the earth and evening sky .
A long and forest-bordered way,Lit by the moonbeam’s golden ray,Leads on to a mystic region far
Of faint perfume and evening star .
Now comes the hour when angels tuneTheir harps to earth’s strange melody
,
Scenting the fragrance of the bloom
Of lilies drowsy on the lea,But linger mostly where roses blow
Of purest white or golden hue .They love to touch with radiant glow
The larkspur’s pale and dreamy blue .
But hark'a sound from distant trees
Is borne on flower—scented breezeAnd down the way a wondrous light
Gleams soft upon the summer night .
The daisies wake and lift their heads,The purple pansies in their beds
[ 57 ]
Seem little lanterns filled with gleeFor a maiden comes across the lea .It is Leonore, all robed in white,Her starry eyes filled with delight,Drivmg before her shades of night .
Her beauty gleams as a star above
The land of palm and orange grove,
And where its rays entrancing rove
There earth sings soft a melody sweet
Beneath her white and stately feet.
Like two blue lakes reflecting bright
The exquisite gleam of soft starlight
From violet eyes a pure soul gleams
And smiles flit o ’er a face of dreams .
Like fairies dancing merrily
In the starlight’s soft and Witching glow
On snowy sands beside the sea
Where pure white lilies blow
So lovelight in her eyes for me
Dances through the mystic night
And fills my heart with pure delight .
But as I gaze a cloud as fair
And white as snow-storm fills the air,And starlight fades from mortal eyes .
Now o’er her face a white hand lies
As pure as lilies pale that blow
Where rivers blue in Paradise flow .
Soon a darker cloud will dim the night,Soon starlight from the sky will flee,Deep darkness fall upon the sea,
[ 58 ]
W/bere flee ' ellowj asmine Twines1
HE jasmine round the palm trees as of yore
Twines its yellow blossoms, rare and sweet,i d sends its charming fragrance evermore
On sunny southern winds my heart to greet .
i ere mocking birds are calling all the day'
ound my home deserted far away .
i e crimson woodbine still beside the door
ooms my wandering steps to welcome home .ing since I left that hallowed spot to roam,
ft sunny lakes of blue that calmly smiled
In Autumn’s first sad melancholy days,zft mosses festooned o
’er the forest wild
To wander forth in strange, untrodden ways .
i ere is a grove of whispering pine trees tall
iat stand like dusky sentinels o ’er all'little
,lonely, unkept graveyard lies
ent and white beneath the southern skies,here shadows deep are ever falling,i d song birds bright are sweetly calling .
iere is one long white grave where I would lieiwn in tears with broken heart to die .It well I know my mother is not there
,
It dwells above in regions of the fair,
.r do I not in dreams her face behold
id glimpse long robes of white entwined with gold,
i d almost hear her calling as of old .
[ 60 ]
For oft in dreams I see her radiant smile,
SING me to sleep, mother,Sing me to sleep,While shadows are falling
Silent and deep
O ’er the dark palms that weep
With dews of night .Whippoorwills are calling
To you and me
In their awkward flight
From tree .to tree .O mother, the owl is crying
Through the black night
And fireflies are flyingW ith
‘
golden light .Sing me to sleep
,mother
,
Sing me to sleep,Sing to thy sorrowing child
While shadows creep
Silent and deep
O ’er the marshes wide and wild .
Sing me to sleep, mother,For bright stars peep
From the low,southern sky,
And shadows creep
O ’er the pine trees high .
0 mother, in the night
A swift star dies,
Chant wildly and slow
In the pools below.
Sing soft and low
Silently o’er allIn mystery untold .
And birds have flown
But only here at my side
Singing art thou .
And long the way,But thou art here only
For a brief day .
NOW is the first chill autumn dayWhen mournful winds begin to blow
And send the dead leaves rustling down
Upon the pavements wide and grey ,When woods in fiery colors glow
And chestnut trees begin to brown
In promise of a hidden wealthThat soon to join the leaves will go,
For merry squirrels that leap by stealth .
Like driven sheep the white clouds fly
Across a blue and wind-blown sky,While birds together flock and cry
And if some strange and bitter woeHad come upon the earth below
From out the northland, white and cold,All dying earth to soon enfold'Had come all happy life to kill
With icy winds and Winter chill .
Too soon the autumn days have come,
Too swiftly the flowers all have gone,
Their many colored petals blown
The summer roses lying dead
Recall to mind the bees’ low hum
And butterflies that now are fled,
The meadow land where daisy bloom
[ 65 ]
For a brief while dispe rsed the dread
Of a sad heart’s mysterious gloom .
They bring to me a memory sweet
Of one who with the summer has gone,W ho as the morn was fair and pure
As lily white and newly blown'Whose blue eyes like the sky ’s azure
In springtime, seemed to ever greet
With joy the coming of my feet,And welcomed me with smile of glee
Beside a wide and murmuring sea .
But I shall see no more that face,Exquisite form of angel grace,For joy may not continue long
Even the birds’ melodious song
Must cease when Winter slowly flings
Her sombre mantle o ’er the way.
But still my heart despairing clings
To glad, long summer days .
[ 66 ]
Fair visions he did to me unfold
Of glowing worlds beyond the sky
Which are unseen to mortal eye .
He touched the west with sword of gold
And I beheld a wondrous wall
Of marble white and gleaming stair
That wound between white pillars tall
Up to the glad and fairer skie3 '
And I heard soft mum on the air
Of harps by hands of seraphim
Lightly touched amid the dim
And marble halls of Paradise .
But swiftly the night came down 'o’er all
And scarce could I the angel tall
And golden see, when round his bright
And glorious form his robes of light
He wound and to celestial height
Rose with his sword extended far
To cleave a pathway through the night .
One parting look of sorrow wild
He gave to me, and then he smiled
With joy untold, , and faint and high
From halls of Paradise a star
Gleamed down from quiet, peaceful sky .
W HERE leaves go rustling in the forest ways
By restless winds into a whirling maze
Driven lik e forgotten sorrows adown
The aisles of time, there pensive wanders lone
A lovely maid in robes of softest blue
Arrayed, whilst from the woodlands, sombre-hued,On breezes comes the chime of morning bells,Ringing out their sad and warning knells
,
As sweet and clear as silver bugles blown
By seraphim who to the earth have flown .
Into the forest depths the maid is going
Whilst all about her perfumed winds are blowing'Close at her feet the brown and faded leaves .
From out the shadows faintly comes the sound
Of hidden waters in the streamlet flowing,And sighing there the willow fondly grieves .
O ’er shaded green where purple violets blow,
Across the green her wandering footsteps go .
Upon the bank she kneels and clasps so fair
The fragrant flowers, twining them in her hair,And silence reigns in sorrow all around .
O’
e rhanging a murmuring stream where shadows
Sweet woodland violets are nodding all the day,From out the emerald ferns like fairies peeping,Breathing on forest air their sweet perfume .
[ 69 ]
The black marsh birds had flown
And to its safe, high nest
The oriole had gone .
But in the pools of night
The frogs’ deep voices gay
As if in hoarse delight
They welcomed close of day .
From distant meadows lowWhippoorwills were singing
Where fireflies to and fro
Merrily were winging,And all the dusky green
Was lit by golden glow .
Far in the mossy trees
Of forest dark and high
Where soft a southern breeze
Brought echoes from below
A great night owl its cry
Shrieked wildly to the sky .
Long o’er the distant lake
The yellow radiance poured
[ 71 ]
As if the world in flame
Had caught from angel’s sword
And on the sky there seemed
Celestial chariots borne
In golden splendor bright
Earth’s sad ways to adorn .
Afar a crimson portalOpened in the glowing gold
And through its gate immortal
Streamed radiance untold .
Upon the lake’s dark shore,Close by the marshes wild,Where water lilies bloomed
There stood a wondering child .
In solemn awe and fear
It gazed upon the west,Upon the glory there
And softly sighed for rest .
But from the golden gate
A voice came sweet and clear
Little one, thou must wait
For many a weary year
Before the dark, wild marsh
Thou shalt cross to enter here .
[ 72 ]
The gentle face
And beauteous grace,
Of one I knew
My path of pain,
Near the blue sky,
Dark and desolate .
Madly I roam in the falling rain,
Wildly I sob with sorrow and pain .
I found in a sheltered place some rare
Wild woodland roses, white and fair
That shone as pearls in the misty air'I knelt and kissed them
,raving wild
And brokenly, as a wandering child
Lost in some unknown,deserted place'
But O, it seemed thy star-sweet face
Looked from the roses into mine,All fair as in the winter time
,
Sweet as roses after summer rain,
Glorious and bright as an angel song'Glad smiles as fair as fairy trainDancing where wild flowers throng .
I sat on the bank of the river old
And watched its waters of dusky gold
Go flowmg to the sea, sullen and cold .
L owena, I cried, I came to thee one morn
In winter time when all my heart was torn
By grief and sorrow burdened' all forlorn
I came as a frozen bird with trembling fear
Of the northern snows . A frozen tear
Stood in my staring eyes, and I
Shivered at the cold white snow and skyAs a tropical bird in the icy north
Caught in the snows, I wandered forth
And found you dear, so sweet and true,And loved you with your eyes of blue .
[ 76 ]
But better it were, far better, I cried
To have been trapped in the cold white snow
Than be so far from thy heart and thee'Sitting all lonely and mourning beside
This dusky river flowing to the sea .
Here at my feet a cataract falls
And further on another calls
In mournful, hollow voice to me .
Ah, better it were I sighed, and sighed,To have been trapped in the snow and
'
died .
L owena, you sang to me, I cried,You called yourself my gypsy bride .
One night you came and kissed me, love,And twined your arms around me, love,Drank from my happy lips all song .
I held you close to my throbbing heart
And murmured low we never should part .It seems a dream and the days are long,So sodden and long, and the skies are grey
Since I came all wild and weeping away
From you, my love, one dreary day .
Ah, the white, fair magnolia bloom,
With its deep, sweet, wild perfume .
I breathed its fragrance and raving wild
It drove me away a wandering child
Lost in a wilderness of strange, new things,Alone and crying where the bittern sings
,
Among the high, thick reeds that bend
Beneath my feet, and the desolate windChants a miserere in the pines .
[ 77 ]
To distant Honolulu,The sombre island city
Amid the dusky throng
A native girl we meet
Her tresses are so long'Her brown and sandaled feet
Softly on the pavement beat
Luring are her glances
As gracefully she dances
The rough stones over .
Through an ancient doorwayIn the lowering wall,Where never comes the dayAnd many shadows fall,
About me soft arms entwme,
Breathing kisses
[ 89 ]
L ove’s Dealt/a
L AID high upon the altar silent I saw himAll fair and cold within the chancel dim
Where stately stood two carven seraphim
As if to guard his soul from dreams of night .
I thought his perfect hands were folded close
And fair as frozen lilies in the snows
That lie o ’er silent woodlands dim and white'And cold his face like marble, or a rose
New blown and chilled and on an altar laid .
Within the darkness low I knelt and prayed,Whilst faintly from a golden cross a light
Streamed dimly forth into the bitter night .
No more his sweet and clarion voice shall ring
Across the purple hills to me and fling
Its charm o’er all the wild, nor answering sing
The distant rills' but falling leaves shall go
In all the autumn ways and chill winds blow
Through many sombre, bitter days and cold .
No brilliant hues of rose nor flame of gold
Shall brightly illumine my pathway as of old,Wherein I wander wearily and slow
While visions come of summer days long goneWhen Love was near and Winter winds had flown .
How still and white his peaceful angel form
Robed in the vestments of the dead and charm
Of mortal soul beyond the touch of harm .
[ 31 ]
Ave Maria,The winter brings
Its gloomy days
With bitter cold,While sharp wind-s
With freezing ring
Outside the fold .
Holy Mother,Guide thou our steps
Through all the wild
And o ’er the depths
Of troubled sea
Bring us to thee
As a little child .
Ave Maria,Who knowest all
Bitterness deep,Help those who fall
And sorrowing weep
In evil thrall,And safely keep
Ave Maria .
[ 84 ]
Of happy hours when you were with me here'And through my tears again I
‘
see the gleam
Of your sweet smile that o ’er my grief and night
Shone as the radiance of an angel’s light .
O that again I could your sweet blue eyes
See as they smiled on me ’neath summer skies,The while you spoke in voice so calm and sweet,As music low of sighing winds so fleet'Know that you loved me as you fondly said
You did one summer night with stars o ’
e rhead .
But now the roses all are faded, gone,And I am wandering sad and all alone’Mid brown and falling leaves, the dark cold skies
Frowningdown upon my grief and sighs'The while the chilly winds blow sharp and cold
all darkened earth with death
”Pee r Not
E spoke to me from out His altar white
So firm and sweet it seemed as if the light
Into my heart of some new Heaven shone,Remembered not through all the blinded past
Of pleasures, pain, and sorrow’s wintry blast .
Clear was the voice and solemn in its tone
Like that of a King upon His snow-white throne
Before Whom all the Heavens bend, the earth
And sea and stars and night which gave’
them birth'Dispersed the clouds of care and banishment
Which had my soul beset' to reason lent
Its clearer light and raised my tortured soul
From out its tomb where 'ustice late had trod
In crucifix ion’
s scarlet robe of might
With all its fearful hosts upon the sod
Of Calvary and prisoned it from light 'Called forth my soul from out its shrouded Hell
And raised it up with angels fair to dwell
Of Love, true Love, and constancy to Him,
Forever in the halls of seraphim .
an' as as
'Published in The Sentinel of the Ble ssed Sacrament, September,
[ 86 ]
'Published
Upon the sea of life,Hard-pressed
,it hovered, nearly lost
Above the rocks of strife .
The adverse winds arose and caught
Its white and riven sailAnd angry waves s 'ore havoc wrought
Soon had it broken upon the reef,Quivering prow and all,Gone shattered down in Silent grief
Unto oblivion’s hall,
Disclosed athwart its fold
Of darkly speeding cloud the lightOf a Star that shone as gold .
Toward it then was plied the oar
With faint but eager hand .
Soon, soon that soul was blown ashore
And reached the safer strand .
A v01ce ,' Contented be,
” did sound,Clear and heavenly sweet 'That soul within its harbor foundWaits there its Star to greet .
=x< =xc
Above all choirs of seraphim
Sing, sweet boys' In Heaven above
Your hymns of praise resound .
'Published in December, 1 9 1 3
[ 88 ]
BEHOLD where Love doth lie in robe as whiteAs ' irgin snow upon His Mother’s breast
,
The beauteous Child of Bethlehem,the light
Of all the earth, its joy and peace and rest
The humblest place in all that lonely land,
Refuge of oxen,shelter for the sheep
From wintry blasts that white and huddled stand
Silent, whilst angels holy vigils keep .
Some shepherds yet remain,with firm belief
In visions of that sweet and wondrous light
When first He came' but filled with grief
His Mother at the darkness of her night'Whilst joseph stands forsaken by the crowdOf villagers who late had curiously come,But seeing naught but poverty, in loud
And ribald mockery cursed his lowly home .
Soon far the trumpet call is heard of might,And from the East the caravan of KingsIn beauty circles o ’er the hills' the brightAnd golden armor flashes
,merrily ring
The joybells, cymbals clash, the lute doth hold
A melody more soft and praises more'Whilst laden with their perfumes
,incense
,gold
,
The Wise Men of the East fall down,adore .
=x= se >x=
'Published in The Sentinel of the Blessed Sacrament, 'anuary,
[ 89 ]
ALE and sweet the mother stands
Within the temple bright
And offers up with slender hands
Her Saviour pure and white'While 'oseph makes the gift
Of poverty—the dove .
His heart is beating Swift
In fervor of his love.
How brightly the sun disposed
His rays upon the three
Until the priest disclosed
The solemn prophecy,A sword shall pierce thy heart'
The sky grew dark again'These words like a poisoned dart
Stirred up all grief and pain .
And Mary saw the years
So filled with anxious care,Dread agony and fears,With desolation bare
Her Little One so white
Dragged to His bitter death,
Withered in the blight
Of error’s venomed breath .
[ 90 ]
Saintj oseph
' O' those who toil, who lead a lifeMonotonous with its load of care,Who wearied long with earthly strife
Yet onward heavy crosses bear'Who gain for recompense at length
But a stingy mite of goldWhich serves but for the gain of strength
To struggle in the cold '
Who have some precious souls in charge,Loved more than words can say,Who fearful of the dangers large
That stalk about the way
Poverty with crime and all,Which as grim spectres haunt
The wearied mind and shrieking callOf death and terrors gaunt
There'
is a Saint who labor knows,Who stands beside the throneOf God to intercede for those
Who toiling on alone,Depressed, lift weary eyes and pray
For ending of their grief,Saint 'oseph, pure, with staff to stayThe weary-hearted, gives relief.
43 as as
'Published in The Sentinel of the Blessed Sacrament, ' arch,
[ 92 ]
O LITTLE One,By Mary sent to cheer the wanderer’s way,Remembrance sweet to gladden all the years,White face Whereon the light of Heaven lovesTo brightly shine
,to gladden all the reign
Of angels high within their halcyon walls,Look down upon this weird and moonlit earth
Where lies the sea in storm, rebellious, deep
With fury,chained within its banks of night,
Awaiting but the winds from out the north
To strive and burst its bounds and hurry forthTo spread destruction in its angry path'Behold the ship which on these waves doth ride,A fragile thing, tossed in the eventide
To where the shoals now lie in secret, veiled
By treacherous clouds that glow as quiet asThe moon—kissed waves of yonder dim ' alhall
O Little One, behold yon crescent moon
Which hangs above the west, those heavy clouds
And mighty surge of wave, and wood afar'The ship that looms o ’
e rburdened with its sail,
White in its course toward the deepening west,
And guide it to the haven of thy rest .
as as as
'Published in The Sentine l of the Blessed Sacrament, ' ay,
HEART of 'esus, burning with love for me'O Sacred Heart, to serve Thee I crave'To crown Thee with garlands, sing Thee a song
To show Thy beauty forth that all may seek
To‘
serve and honor Thee'Heart of my King,Heart of Love, consuming all that
’s self
Wrapped with Thee in , that o ’
erwhe lmingflame
I long no more for the transient joys of earth .
Pure fire,consume the dross and le ave the gold
Refined of Love, wherewith to honor Thee .
Crush me that I may give the perfume forth
Of suffering, as the broken lily lies
Before the tread of some exalted king .
Let all my hopes of worldly gain be caughtAnd shattered in the dust before Thy feet
That I may rise, look up and recognizeThat all is dross save that which honors Thee
,
Put on the robe of penitence and serve
Thee with the balm of myrrh . O Heart of Love,
I cling to Thee, 0 Sacred Heart, I bringMy weary heart, adoring Thee, my King'
>x= =x= =x=
'Published in The Sentinel of the Blessed Sacrament, 'uly,
BEHOLD and see if there be any sorrowLike to my sorrow . I held a flower white
It seems but yesterday, which rested closeUpon my breast, a fair and beauteous Child,My very own, like to the snowy height
Of Carmel, undefiled z—the lily pure
Of all my dreams, the rose of Sharon blownBy sweetest winds from out the south . A Child,His eyes two morning stars, and little mouthA rosebud sweet, —the joy of Paradise'Whom angels knelt to praise, and shepherds poor,The Kings from out the East, and all on earthAcceptable did honor as their God'In Whom all Love had never foundAn obj ect lovelier . Fair and glorious Boy
,
I fondly guided Him, and mother yetHad never loved a child more than I loved .
A flower pale and sweet, unto this heartI pressed Him, fearful of the prophecyA sword my heart should pierce .
You took Him from me'What have you given back' This form
,
Scarce body,’tis so rent with thorn and nail
,
The whip and scourge, the malice of a partInhuman played by mortals goaded onBy envy, hatred, self, and cruelty sharp,The petty spites of men wherewith their God
[ 96 ]
But took it on His shoulders,bruised and bent
All that I held most dear,—my Saviour crushed
And bleeding in my arms . I marvel that
For you have crucified your gracious God,And mine . Not once, so long ago, but now,
Each time you take from me and give to sm,
The heavy Cross is laid upon His soul s
O’
erburdened . Pity, spare my grief-torn heart,In mercy give to me a mother’s due, thyself.
'Published
[ 97 ]
Gathered and swept us here,In prison dark, with summer past,
O’
erhead no sunny skies of blue,
But fires that purge the soul .
Friends on earth we cryFor aid . Let cooling waters flow
Until we reach the Heavenly goal .
'Published Novembe r,
[ 98 ]
HERE in this moss-grown graveyard tread my feet
Where many a thousand bones in dust are laid
And lonely lie the hearts -of monarchs brave
Who used to rule the earth . Once did they breathe
And strut their tiny parts,then to the dust
Returned from whence they came . So rules great Time,The mightiest King of all and from their seatsThrows down the exalted, placing in their stead
The humble and the meek . O Time, thou art
A winnowmg fan, Creation’s strongest arm
Who rules o ’er matter thus' the silent judge
Who marks each phrase from lips of mortals wrung
And hears the accusation of his deeds,The wrangling of the accusers in their heat,And with a tear the pleas of advocates .But 'ustice is the motto which doth hangAbove thy silvered head, nor Mercy heedsWhere mercy is not due . O Time
,true judge
,
I tremble at thy power' spare the heartWhich so hath lauded thee .
IN Purgatory fires of Hell do burn me,Searing flames have scourged the malice outWhich once my heart did fill, with other sins
Too great to speak . Now am I wounded soreBy 'ustice
’s dart, and dreadful doth he claimHis fearful part . Soon, soon may Mercy bend
The angels of this pit to loose my soul,Letting it upward fly cleansed from all stain
To seek its peaceful home within the sky .
O pray for me, ye happy ones of earth
Whom God doth bless in Presence of the Host'Scarce lower than the angels is your lot .But I, unhappy soul, knew not your bliss'Plunged in the maelstrom of the bloody warI fell to save you from the foemen
’
s dart,Gave all that you might live . O pray for meThat soon my chains be loosed, and I
Shall upward in my joy forget you not .
'Published in The Sentine l of the Ble ssed Sacrament, Novembe r,
In gloom beneath a deep-tonedTolls out the solemn knellOf days approaching end,And fateful clouds that bendIn ominous sorrow
Against the western skies
wDim in their changeless woeW hich o ’er the city lies,While Night’s mysterious pallFalls solemnly o ’er all .
By the columns, tall and white,In the slowly fading lightStood one as fair and bright
As a seraph in the nightCome down from evening starExquisitely afarGleaming in deserted sky'And for a moment briefThe endless, untold griefOf Night was charmed complete,As incomparably sweetHe smiled in rapt delight
Like seraphs smile on high .
